Roadworks are ongoing on Kennington and Newtown Road (including Bad Munstereifel Road and Barrey Road), locals express concern
Lots of roads are closed for roadwork. Kennington Road and Newtown Road shut down this spring, causing traffic jams all over. There are seven road projects happening at once; key routes have blockages or temporary lights.
The gas company started work on Kennington Road and Newtown Road. Delays are expected on Bad Munstereifel Road until Saturday. National Highways closed a lane for upgrades.
Barrey Road and Church Road are also shut. UK Power Networks works there until late April. Stanhope Road has a rolling closure all month, and Bank Street is also under repair.
Buses cannot use Bank Street during this closure. People waited for buses on Vicarage Lane and Station Road. Somerset Road has one lane closed until Saturday.
Residents are very upset with all of this. One person joked about needing a helicopter to drive around, while another avoids the town center now because the traffic is too bad.
One woman avoids the Matalan roundabout because of traffic. She mentioned it impacts her day a lot and thinks this stops rural folks from visiting. Her brother struggles to reach Junction 10 as well.
Some worry about emergency vehicles getting through. One person thinks someone could die due to delays. There are no clear routes to travel anymore; one resident’s short drive takes 25 minutes now.
One business owner called roadwork on Kennington Road a joke. He might have to shut down his restaurant and will lose trade during the busy summer, as the gas work will last nine weeks, ending in September.